Distylium plant named ‘PIIDIST-VI’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of Dystilium hybrid plant named, ‘PIIDIST-VI’, that is characterized by its compact, freely branched, mounded, and evergreen plant habit, its small, ovate-lanceolate shaped leaves that are green with a hint of red-purple in color when young and dark green in color when mature, and its good cold hardiness.

Botanical classification: Distylium myricoides x Distylium racemosum.

Varietal denomination: ‘PIIDIST-VI’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Distylium mycricoides x Distylium racemosum and will be referred to hereafter by its cultivar name, ‘PIIDIST-VI’. ‘PIIDIST-VI’ represents a new Distylium, an evergreen shrub grown for landscape use.

The new cultivar of Distylium arose from a breeding program conducted by the Inventors in Watkinsville, Ga. ‘PIIDIST-VI’ originated as a seedling that arose from seed planted from the open pollination of Distylium hybrid ‘PIIDIST-II’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,409). ‘PIIDIST-VI’ was selected as a single unique plant in summer of 2013 from amongst the resulting seedlings.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by semi-hardwood stem cuttings by one of the Inventors in Watkinsville, Ga. in 2014. Asexual propagation by semi-hardwood stem cuttings has determined that the characteristics of the new cultivar are stable and are reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent the characteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combination distinguish ‘PIIDIST-VI’ as a unique cultivar of Distylium.

-   -   1. ‘PIIDIST-VI’ exhibits a compact, freely branched, mounded,         and evergreen plant habit.     -   2. ‘PIIDIST-VI’ exhibits small, ovate-lanceolate shaped leaves         that are green with a hint of red-purple in color when young and         dark green in color when mature.     -   3. ‘PIIDIST-VI’ exhibits good cold hardiness.

‘PIDIST-II’, the female parent of ‘PIIDIST-VI’, differs from ‘PIIDIST-VI’ in having a more spreading plant habit and in having leaves that are maroon-purple when young and dark blue-green when mature. ‘PIIDIST-VI’ can be most closely compared to the Distylium cultivars ‘PIIDIST-I’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,410) and PIIDIST-III (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,304). ‘PIDIST-I’ differs from ‘PIIDIST-VI’ in having a more upright plant habit and in having young foliage that is yellow-green in color. ‘PIIDIST III’ differs from ‘PIIDIST-VI’ in having a rounded to spreading plant habit and in having leaves that are bronze-purple when young and dark bluish green when mature.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of the new Distylium. The photographs were taken of a four-year-old plant as grown in the ground in full sun in Watkinsville, Ga.

The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a side view of the plant habit of ‘PIIDIST-VI’.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of the leaves and inflorescences of ‘PIIDIST-VI’.

The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with the photographic and printing technology utilized and the color values cited in the Detailed Botanical Description accurately describe the colors of the new Distylium.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of four-year-old plants as grown in the ground in full sun in Watkinsville, Ga. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possible environmental conditions. The color determination is in accordance with The 2007 R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General description:     -   -   Blooming period.—Late winter, from January to February in             Watkinsville, Ga.         -   Plant type.—Evergreen shrub.         -   Plant habit.—Compact, well-branched, mounded.         -   Height and spread.—An average of 61 cm in height and 1.52 m             in spread as a 4 year-old plant in the landscape.         -   Hardiness.—At least in U.S.D.A. Zones 7 to 9.         -   Diseases and pests.—No susceptibility or resistance to pests             or diseases has been observed.         -   Root description.—Fibrous, well-branched and extensive, 156A             in color.         -   Propagation.—Semi-hardwood stem cuttings.         -   Time required for root development.—An average of six weeks             for root initiation in the summer at 32° C. with a young             rooted plant produced in about three months at 32° C.         -   Growth rate.—Moderate. -   Branch description:     -   -   Branch color.—First year; 138A, second year and older; 199B             to 199C, older bark and trunk; 199A.         -   Branch size.—First year; an average of 16 cm in length and 2             mm in diameter; second year and older; an average of 60 cm             in length and 3.5 mm in diameter, trunk; an average of 7 cm             in diameter at the soil.         -   Stem shape.—Rounded.         -   Stem surface.—First year; Finely pubescent and slightly             lenticellate with lenticels an average of 1 mm in diameter             and N199B in color, second year and older; glabrous and             smooth, older bark and trunk; none exfoliating and is             densely lenticellate with lenticels about 1 mm in diameter             and N199B in color.         -   Stem strength.—First year; flexible, second year and older;             easily broken.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Leaf division.—Simple.         -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.         -   Leaf arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Leaf shape.—Elliptic to lanceolate.         -   Leaf size.—An average of 4 cm in length and 1.5 cm in width.         -   Leaf apex.—Acute.         -   Leaf base.—Cuneate.         -   Leaf number.—An average of 26 leaves per branch 12 cm in             length.         -   Leaf surface.—Upper and lower surfaces; smooth, thick, and             coriaceous.         -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate, color; young and mature leaves upper             and lower surfaces; midrib 137A and lateral veins 144A.         -   Leaf margin.—Entire and occasionally undulate.         -   Leaf color.—Young leaves; upper surface 137A suffused with             64A and lower surface 144A, mature leaves; upper surface             N137A and lower surface 144A.         -   Leaf bud.—An average of 2 mm in length and 1 mm in width,             ovoid in shape, surface covered with fused pubescent bud             scales, N137A lightly suffused with 64A in color.         -   Internode length.—An average of 1.5 cm.         -   Petiole.—An average of 1 mm in diameter and 4 mm in length,             rounded in shape, 199C in color, pubescent in surface. -   Flower description:     -   -   Inflorescence type.—Short axillary racemes comprised of             apetalous flowers with a 5-parted calyx.         -   Inflorescence aspect.—Upwards.         -   Inflorescence size.—An average of 2 cm in height and 1 cm in             width.         -   Flower quantity.—An average of 2 flowers per inflorescence             and about 7 inflorescences per lateral stem.         -   Flower lastingness.—An average of 1 week, self-cleaning.         -   Flower aspect.—Upwards.         -   Flower type.—Apetalous with showy stamens subtended by             pubescent sepals.         -   Flower size.—About 1.1 cm in depth and 1 cm in diameter.         -   Sepals.—5, an average of 2.8 mm in width and 1.2 mm in             length, ovate in shape, entire margin, acute apex, truncate             to rounded base, upper and lower surfaces a blend between             157C and 161D in color and pubescent with hairs 165A in             color.         -   Peduncles.—An average of 1.2 cm in length and 2 mm in             diameter, rounded in shape, 146C in color with pubescence             165A in color.         -   Pedicels.—An average of 2 mm in length and 0.7 mm in             diameter, rounded in shape, 146C in color with pubescence             165A in color. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Gynoecium.—1 pistil, stigma; 2 per pistil, linear in shape,             held above stamens, an average of 6 mm in length, 178B in             color, style; an average of 3 mm in length, 146B in color,             ovary; 2 per flower, superior, an average of 2 mm in length             and diameter, 146B in color.         -   Androcoecium.—An average of 7 to 10 showy stamens per             flower, an average of 5 mm in length, anthers; basifixed, an             average of 2 mm in length and 1 mm in width, 185A in color,             filament; an average of 3 mm in length and >1 mm in width,             146D in color, pollen is moderate in quantity and 158D in             color.         -   Fruit and seed.—Fruit; two-valved capsule, beaked and woody             containing 1 seed per valve, an average of 1 cm in length             and 5 mm in width, 200C in color, seed; oblong to elliptical             in shape, and average of 5 mm in length and 2 mm in width,             N200A in color. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Distylium plant named ‘PIIDIST-VI’ as herein illustrated and described. 